Hammies

Bikini

$ 99.99

The Hammies Bikini is based on one of the original bikini styles from the 1960s. It combines elements from a couple of our favorite vintage finds, such as white rick rack trim, faux button closure in the back of the top, darts, and a vertical two-tone colorway. The body and rick rack are made with 15% stretch to accommodate bodies of all shapes and sizes. The buttons and white contrasting trim match the details of our Smock and Cabana Set and really complete that mid-century look.

The Bikini is our latest and greatest of many pieces that celebrate the exuberant and underappreciated styles from 1950-60s swim style. This is your grandma's bikini!

The Inspiration

The History

The history of the swimsuit is a fascinating tale of American and European prudishness of dress starting in the early 20th century. Prior to the 1940s, most women swam in full garb, including dresses, stalkings, boots, and a weight belt to keep them from floating. Men's swimwear was much less oppressive in comparison (essentially a wool onesie until barechestedness became acceptable in the 1930s). The bikini took the fashion stage in the 1930s but didn't gain public acceptance until the 1960s. For the next 40 years, the swimsuit, and the bikini specifically, pushed the limits of American fashion and modesty more than any other wardrobe item. If you want to learn more, we recommend Making Waves: Swimsuits and the Undressing of America by Lena Lenček and Gideon Bosker.

The Story of the Swimsuit from Making Waves

This item is shipped directly from the maker! This means you may receive your order in multiple shipments (if you are ordering more than one item) and if it is being made-to-order, please be mindful of the designer's individually allocated lead times! We are proudly connecting our customers and the designers we love in a direct way in the hopes that we can support other small businesses in tandem with our own! Items that are shipped directly from the maker incur a shipping fee that is uniquely set by those designers, and we handle all the rest from there! 

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